From VDOT:
Motorists will see increasing nighttime lane closures this spring and summer at the intersection of Route 1, Route 17 Business and Route 218 (Butler Road) in Stafford County’s Falmouth area, where construction continues on a $22.1 million Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) project.
Construction is 50 percent complete. The project consists of building new turn lanes and through travel lanes at the intersection, thereby reducing driver delay at the traffic signal.
New lanes and sidewalks will open to traffic in September 2015.
The final six months of construction this spring and summer will involve building and paving new lanes, constructing new median islands and sidewalks, and installing new traffic signal equipment.
“We appreciate the cooperation and patience of drivers over the past year during the demolition, utility relocation, and early construction work,” said Michael Coffey, P.E., VDOT’s Assistant District Administrator for Construction, Fredericksburg District. “We look forward to wrapping up construction over the next six months to deliver this project in September.”
Utility lines have been moved underground at the intersection. Three of the 4 new signal poles were installed in March. Storm sewer systems are in place, and sidewalks are partially constructed.
Stone walls are being built on two of the intersection’s four corners as a gateway entrance to Stafford County. Landscaping will be installed in late fall, after the new lanes are open, when temperatures are cooler and ideal for planting.
What Motorists Can Expect
Nightly single-lane closures will be in place most weeks on Sunday-Thursday evenings. Lane closures will be avoided during peak travel times, such as weekdays at rush hour, Friday evenings, and daytime hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lane closure information is available in real-time on www.511Virginia.org.
Residents can sign up to receive project updates by email. Send an email with “Falmouth Intersection” in the subject line to fredericksburginfo@VDOT.Virginia.Gov.
Project Background
Construction began in March 2014 on an improvement project at Route 1, Route 17 Business and Butler Road in Stafford, also known as the Falmouth intersection. The total project cost is an estimated $22.1 million. A $4.9 million contract was awarded to Tavares Concrete, Inc., for construction.
This project will unclog a key alternate route for Interstate 95 and make it easier for Stafford and City of Fredericksburg residents to pass between the localities.
Other benefits include the reduction of vehicle emissions from idling vehicles, and quicker access for emergency vehicles passing through the intersection. Extensive documentation was done of historically significant features at the project site.